Knoxville City Council will hold an all-day hearing this coming Thursday, May 17, on Mayor Madeline Rogero’s proposed $377 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018. The public is encouraged to attend.

 

The hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Large Assembly Room of the City County Building. Vice Mayor Finbarr Saunders will make opening comments, followed by Mayor Rogero, Chief Operating Officer David Brace, and Finance Director Jim York.

 

These remarks, from 8:30-9:45 a.m. offer the best chance to understand the overall budget, including the challenges presented by climbing costs and more or less flat revenues. Then, starting at 9:45 a.m. and lasting until 4:45 p.m., department heads will present overviews of their departmental budgets.

 

This legislative budget hearing will be followed by a public hearing beginning at 5 p.m. To be called upon to speak, contact the City Council office at 215-2075. Or, prior to the start of the budget hearing, walk on stage and ask City Recorder Will Johnson to put your name on the list of speakers. Each speaker will have up to five minutes to make comments.

 

See this web page for the full agenda for the day. The 231-page budget document, the Mayor’s budget address, budget highlights, the budget calendar, and other documents can be found here.

 

As required by the City Charter, City Council adopted the budget on first reading at its last meeting. The second reading is scheduled for the May 22 meeting of Council.